Sisters Budget Committee approves $43.86 million budget, sets permanent tax rate

The Sisters Budget Committee voted to approve a $43,858,935 budget for fiscal year 20262727 and set the city's permanent tax rate at $2.6417 per $1,000 of assessed value. Chair Sarah McDougall presided over the vote after staff completed the proposed budget presentation and closed the public hearing on state revenue sharing, which drew no public comments.

City Manager Jordan Wheeler told the committee the package includes major capital and utility work and frames near-term decisions about whether to draw on reserves or pursue fee adjustments. "43,800,000 is your total city budget, for a town of 4,000 people," Wheeler said while walking members through the high-level numbers. Finance Director Joe O'Neil and department staff then reviewed the line-item details before the committee moved and approved the budget. The motion to adopt the budget passed during the meeting; committee members also approved a motion to cancel a scheduled committee meeting later in May.

The adopted budget funds a mix of operating needs and capital projects, with water and utility projects among the largest planned expenditures. Staff noted the budget relies in part on proposed loan proceeds for water infrastructure; separate votes or council actions will be required to finalize borrowing and any fee changes. The committee forwarded the approved budget to the City Council for final adoption under the city's budget process.